I heard just a rumor but from a decent source that MSC is considering laying up ships. One main group would be the useless EPFs. I understand that a lot of ships have minimum manned departments. This is crazy. I am sure they are still asking the ships to UNREP with reduced manning but still send several stations.
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I wouldn’t be surprise if that is true.
Which ones are the EPFs?
The govt needs to sell the Montfort Point ships. They were based on tankers from what I understand and could possibly be refinished as tankers(?) in any case they were another idea that went bust.
Just like the LCS
Just like the MSC crewed fast catamarans
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They’re laying up the Glenn and the Montford Point has a new mission. The Puller is manned by CivMars and I think they’re in the Persian gulf. Not sure what they do these days.
Who’s going to buy them anyways? They don’t have cargo space.
Those are the EPF’s
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A few of them like the Puller were finished as “afloat forwards bases” are painted gray and are USS vs USNS. They do have a mission.
Might be a way to solve their chronic crew shortages, less boats=less jobs=more mariners hungry for work right?
Certainly could use the crew to keep the unrep ships manned for the increased optempo that comes from adding additional cruisers/destroyers/air wing to the mid east.
For the EPFs it sounds like to actually do acceptably well at their intended missions, but those missions aren’t necessarily what’s critically needed at the moment.
When the seas are less than 4 ft, yeah, they’re kick ass
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EPFs were a pain to transport in rough weather . Once they got to the destination, were better. I remember one followed my sons unrep ship from Jax to Gibraltar. Ship had to slow down much of the way. Once they got to Gibraltar, EPF was a cloud of dust.
So ships are being laid up due to crew. Critical shortage of C/M and experienced Cargo mates. Navs are staying for the Yards as acting C/M, a Year ago getting to the yard would be when the C/M would finally get relived but now they are pulling them and sending them to Active ships.
Severe lack of A/Bs, at least ones who have a clue. Massive shortage of training Rig drivers, There is an abundance of OS, some of them are top notch and are being put into specialty jobs(Fire marshal, Carpenter) right away.
Engine is doing comparatively well, only real shortage is in 3rds. I just saw a 1st and 2nd get relived within 2 weeks of their due dates.
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The Montford Point vessels could be sold and repurposed for the growing offshore wind turbine industry as a staging platform or transport.
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Just finished a 2 million $ bow deck replacement on an EPF in drydcok up in the northeast, the boat wasn’t even off the pier before word got out that she was getting scrapped. Not sure if it’s 100% true but according to the CE that’s what was happening. Last I saw she was still undergoing shore side repairs but with full intention of being scrapped so its a hard one to wrap my head around.
If anyone is currently employed by MSC (happily or unhappily) can you message me if you’re willing to give advice to a greenhorn? Thanks in advance. I have a few specific questions that can only be answered by someone with MSC experience. The only people I’ve networked with are SIU union guys so far.
MSC is laying up EPFs. Yuma just returned from the Med.
They are also looking at Lewis and Clark and Sacagewa from the prepo fleet and one ESB.
They are shifting crews to the UNREP vessels due to the shortages and improve rotation.
They have 2 EPFs sitting in Orange, TX. Carson City and Newport I believe. Been there for a few months.
The published MSC salaries…is that assuming 12 months on ship or 8?
I sometimes think about applying as CM, but know thats its probably a terrible idea.
12 months total (10 on ship 2 on paid leave roughly), and its an average not a guarantee. MSC mariners make less money than most other mariners, they just work longer. But try convincing them of that.
It can be a fun job if you have nothing to be “home” for and don’t mind being gone indefinitely (especially as CM). I wouldn’t recommend it at the moment.
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Orange is Beaumont’s waiting room. There are also two up in Philly that have been docked there for years, wonder when they’ll make the trip South on the wire.
Not surprising to hear about the Lewis & Clark and Sacagawea, they have been mostly anchored warehouses for a while now, I wonder if they have flaws from being the first two in the fleet and the rest had whatever issue corrected. Either way, sounds like they are soon to be parts hulks.
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https://news.usni.org/2024/08/22/navy-could-sideline-17-support-ships-due-to-manpower-issues
Looks semi-official.
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Let me get this straight. The rank and file CIVMAR’s are giving feedback that they can’t make the ridiculous schedules work with their work / life balance and the Navy’s solution is to lay up ships and not even attempt to adapt to their needs? They deserve all the hate they will get. Idiots.
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